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Finishes

Major Topics Plaster Gypsum Board Tile Terrazzo Acoustical Treatment Wood Flooring Dimension Stone Tile Flooring Resilient Flooring Carpet Paints Vinyl Wall Coverings

Plaster

Gypsum – a rocklike mineral (hydrous calcium sulfate) is usually combined with clay, limestone, and iron oxides (resulting color is gray, brown, or pinkish). In its pure form it is white and known as plaster of paris

2 properties make gypsum useful as a plaster material: When intensely heated (calcined) it becomes a fine

powder When water is added, it remains plastic for a short

time and after it “sets” returns to its original rocklike state

Provides superior fire resistance

Plaster con’t

2 main “coats” of plaster: Basecoat – neat (doesn’t contain aggregates),

wood-fibered (course cellulose fibers to provide great coverage), ready-mixed (mill-prepare-usually contains perlite)

Finish Coat – the final operation in plastering; Gypsums Keene’s Cement plaster – produces a dense, hard finish and is crack resistant.

Portland Cement Plaster- Exterior location called “stucco” Interior location called “plaster”

Plaster Installation Considerations

The surface should be clean (remove surface laitance, form oil) to ensure good bonding – sometimes requires sandblasting

When applying to masonry mortar joints should be struck flush or slightly raked

May need to apply a “dash coat” (1 part portland cement and 1-2 parts sand)

Over wood or metal framing --- metal reinforcement may be used (diamond mesh & welded wire lath are examples)

Plaster Application con’t

The minimum thickness and # of coats depends on the base

3 coat work: Consists of scratch coat (cross-raked to provide

better bond with brown coat), brown coat, and finish coat (may be float, spray, or texture)

Gypsum Wallboard

Main types: Regular core – surface with manila paper for

smooth surface Pre-decorated Foil-backed – aluminum foil on back to act as

vapor retarder Fire-resistant (Type X) – core consists of

additives and glass fibers Water-resistant (WR) – contain multi-layers of

chemically treated paper & core contains asphaltic additives

Gypsum Board Edges

Rounded Tapered Beveled Square Tongue and Groove

Gypsum Board Fasteners

Nails Screws -- (drywall screws) zinc phosphate

coating with baked-on linseed oil Clips and staples – used to attach the base

ply on multi-ply construction Adhesives – used to attach single-ply

wallboard to wood framing, masonry, or to laminate layers of drywall

Gypsum Board con’t

Joint tape – used as joint reinforcement and is strong-fibered with chamfered edges

Joint compounds – embed and bond the joint tape and cover, level, and smooth the joints and fasteners A minimum of 3 coats usually applied 12 to 24 hours between coats (unless quick-

setting compound used) Edge and Corner Trim

Tile

Ceramic tile is made from non-metallic minerals fired at high temperatures and manufactured in modular units

Major types: Glazed wall tile – mainly used on walls [4”x4”] Ceramic mosaic tile – mainly used on floors

[1”x1”; 1”x2”, 2”x2”] Paver tile – floor units [4”x4” or larger] Quarry tile – larger natural clay units

Tiles should be cut with suitable tool [no less than ½ tiles]

Shapes of Trim Tiles

Bullnose Cove Base Curb

Some Tile Setting Products

Portland cement mortar – most common Dry-set mortar – portland cement, sand, and

resinous additives Epoxy mortar – used in areas where chemical

resistance or high bond strength is important Furan mortar – 2 part consists of a resin & a

hardener ( used in labs and industrial plants)

Tile Grouts

Type selected is based on kind of tile and type of exposure

Some examples: Commercial portland cement Silicon rubber Epoxy Furan Resin

Applied by troweling diagonally across the joints on the face of the tile, excess removed by washing (sponge used)

Joint width varies according to the type and size of tile used [ 1/16” to ½”]

Terrazzo

Used as early as Roman times; historically limited to marble

Embedded small pieces of marble or other resinous materials set in mortar which are finished by grinding and polishing

Is a durable, low-maintenance floor finish Can be cast in place or pre-cast

Basic Ingredients of Terrazzo Topping

Binders Decorative Chips Pigments Divider strips, expansion strips Metal reinforcement Isolation membranes Curing compounds Sealing materials

Acoustical Treatment

Wall and ceiling materials are used to control the transmission of sound

Includes: Acoustical ceiling Integrated ceiling – consists of acoustical material,

suspension system, air distribution outlets, and lighting fixtures

Acoustical wall treatment Baffle –acoustical panel that is suspended from

an edge or “floats” in a space

Acoustical Performance

2 Major Terms: Sound Transmission Class (STC) – a figure (in

dB – decibels) derived by comparing the sound transmission losses against pre-determined standards . The higher the number…the better the soundproofing properties of the material

Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC) – the percentage of sound energy a material absorbs. The range is 0-1; the higher the percentage…the better sound absorption medium.

Wood Flooring

Wood flooring has excellent wearing qualities, moderate cost, and is easy to install and maintain.

About 12 types of woods are used to manufacture wood flooring (~80% of all wood flooring is hardwood – mostly oak)

Moisture content is 6-9% for hardwood and 9-10% for softwood

Most flooring is T&G 3 basic styles:

Strip – up to 3-1/4” wide and ¾” thick Plank – 3-1/2” to 6” wide and ¾” thick Block – 9” wide and ½” thick

Dimension Stone Tile Floor

Most interior flooring stone is slate, marble, granite, limestone, or soapstone

The Marble Institute of America (MIA) does not recommend using any stone flooring less than ¾” thick to avoid possible cracking.

Resilient Flooring

Is a class of flooring products distinguished by resilience and dense, non-absorbent surfaces

Linoleum, 1st resilient flooring, was discovered in England over 100 years ago.

May be purchased in sheet or square tile format Classes include:

Vinyl Vinyl Composition Rubber Cork Linoleum

Carpet

First power loom for weaving carpets was invented in Lowell, Massachusetts in 1839.

Factors comparing carpets include: Pile yarn weight Pile thickness Number of tufts per square inch

Installation of carpets is not limited to floor – it may also be used on walls

Carpet con’t Possible material of the pile:

Wool Nylon Acrylics Polyester Polypropylene (Olefin)

Face construction to identify carpet: Level-loop Cut Multi-level loop Random shear Frieze or twist Sculptured

Carpet Installation

Unless glued down, all carpet should have some form of cushion (padding) under it

Padding materials include: Felted hair Rubberized fibers Cellular rubber Urethane foam

The density and thickness of the pad determines the amount of cushioning and should be selected based on use of area

Carpet Installation

Carpet that is not rubber backed may be installed using tack strips around the perimeter. The carpet, after achieving adequate stretching, is gripped by the strips.

Carpet may also be glued in place. This is sometimes done in industrial settings and with carpet tiles.

Paint

Paint is a mixture of minute solid particles known as pigment, suspended in a liquid medium called the vehicle.

Pigment: Provides hiding power and color

Vehicle: Combines the solvent (thinner) to ensure

consistency Combines the binder which bonds the pigment

particles into a cohesive paint film during the drying process

Paint Types

Paints are described by the type of binder used in them: Alkyd Latex Oil Oleoresinous Rubber Urethane

Primers

Paint or transparent finish materials intended for application over bare surfaces

Wall primers, wood primers, wood fillers, metal primers, and masonry and concrete wall primers and fillers are a few.

Paints

Interior topcoat finishes: Gloss Semi-gloss Flat

Specialty Types of paint: Heat-resistant Fire-retardant Zone-marking (traffic paints –fast drying,

little flow)

Transparent Finishes

Includes: Wood stains Linseed oil Varnish Shellac [short shelf life – 4 to 6 months after

manufactured] Lacquer [not usable over previously finished

surfaces] Polyurethane

Vinyl Wall Coverings

These are fabric-backed polyvinyl chloride sheets

Easily cleaned, damage resistant, and stain and fade resistant

The sheets come in a variety of weights – the heavier material is more resistant to tearing